SI's landmark Swimsuit Production hit newsstands today, complete with a major package, Upton, floating in zero gravity. For Upton, who appeared on SI's swimsuit covers in 2012 and 2013, her weightless shoot was a way to bring modeling to new heights.

The shoot took place on March 18, 2013; Upton and ZERO-G flew out of Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville, Florida. A specially modified Boeing-727, known as G-FORCE ONE, performed a series of 17 parabolas – 13 zero gravity and four replicating lunar gravity – as Upton bounced and soared through the plane for the cameras. Upton's weightless experience was not simulated; ZERO-G is the first and only FAA-approved provider of commercial weightless airline flights for the public.

"The ZERO-G experience was really exhilarating for everyone involved," said MJ Day, editor of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. "We have been almost everywhere in the past 50 years with SI Swimsuit, but we have never done anything like this. It was certainly the most out-of-the-box shoot. Once again, Kate surprised us all with how she handled modeling in weightlessness.

Still... the possibilities of weightlessness are there for the ingenious to exploit. No need to carry bras into space, that's for sure. Imagine a spacecraft of the future, with a crew of a thousand ladies, off to Alpha Centauri, with two thousand breasts bobbing beautifully and quivering delightfully in response to their every weightless movement... and I am the commander of the craft, and it is Saturday morning and time for inspection, naturally...

cspg

"The ZERO-G experience was really exhilarating for everyone involved," said MJ Day, editor of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

Especially for the guy adjusting Ms. Upton's swimsuit at the beginning (was touching her breasts THAT necessary?)...

By the way, where was the pool?

Anyway, if you want to boost investment in "space tourism" (and no, I will not go where you'd like me to go), that's the way to do it! (again!)

And on a far, far less joyful note, the quote from Mr. Collins reminds me of why some "humans" blow themselves up for their "causes" in some regions of the world (or on 9/11).

It's sexist. Sorry in another lifetime I probably was a woman. Or whatever.

Robert Pearlman

In defense of Collins, he was describing a personal daydream he had while aboard Apollo 11. It is not sexist to have fantasies — everyone (male and female) does.

Comparing his account and terrorist acts is taking it a bit too far, I think. Maybe I have done a disservice to Collins by excerpting his quote, as in its context within the book it is just one thought among a string of events.

stsmithva

"Some kind of celestial event. No... no words. No words to describe it. Poetry! They should have sent a poet. So beautiful. So beautiful... I had no idea."

music_space

I had to look it up, stsmithva: the quote is from the movie "Contact"!

This video demonstrate what I have suspected for a long time: one can't just take a bra adjusted for one-g and expect the result to be as esthetic in zero-g. I wish that the editors of Sport Illustrated had seized the opportunity to entrust a swimsuit designer to engineer — and adjust in flight — a special bra.

MrSpace86

For the record, I love the photoshoot. It's classy, not over the top, and creative. They chose someone that pulled off the shoot quite well and I actually thought this was done more because of the popularity of the movie 'Gravity' (but the shoot was done back in March 2013).

Sexist? I don't think it is. They usually pick really exotic and "out there" ideas for their shoots. Too bad it wasn't with any actual spacecraft.

Tykeanaut

If there was ever just one day for me to experience Zero G that was it!

Kevmac

In the words of one of our astronaut heroes:

Zero-G and I feel fine!

cspg

quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: Comparing his account and terrorist acts is taking it a bit too far, I think. Maybe I have done a disservice to Collins by excerpting his quote, as in its context within the book it is just one thought among a string of events.

You need to look beyond the act and see that the fantasies are the same. I never intended or wanted to imply that Mr. Collins' daydream and a terrorist act are the same.

dabolton

I'm kinda surprised it took this long for someone to use a vomit comet for ad space. Its the perfect medium for free expression.

Robert Pearlman

This may be the first swimsuit shoot, but its not a first for advertising in zero-g. As Zero-G flight director Loretta Whitesides recounts in her article about the SI flight:

In the past the plane has been used to film footage for the Biggest Loser, Rebel Billionaire, The Apprentice, The Martha Stewart Show, Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel Live and most notably to offer famed physicist and gravity expert Stephen Hawking a once in a lifetime chance to float free of his wheelchair. Lenovo and 7 UP have also used footage from the plane in advertising campaigns. (There are just the shoots I can remember off the top of my head).